John Barleycorn Lyrics - Subway To Sally

There were three farmers in the north, as they were passing by 

they swore an oath so mighty oh that Barleycorn should die 

one of them said: drown him and the other sad: hang him high 

for whoever will stick to Barleycorn a-begging he will die 

they put poor Barley into a sack an a cold an rainy day 

and took him out to cornfields and buried him in the clay 

frost and snow began to melt and dew began to fall 

when Barleygrain put up his head and he soon surprised them all 

being in the summer season and the harvest coming on 

it's the time he stands up in the field with a beard like any man 

the reaper then came with his sickle and used me barberously 

he cut me in the middle so small and he cut me above the knee 

the next came was the binder and he looked at me with a frown 

for in the middle there was a thistle which pulled his courage down 

the farmer came with his pitch fork and he pierced me to the heart 

like a thief, a rogue or a highwayman they tied me to the cart 

the thresher came with his big flail and soon he broke my bones 

could grieve the heart of any man to hear my sighs and moans 

the next thing that they've done to me they steeped me in the well 

they left me there for a day and night until I began to swell 

and next thing that they've done to me they dried me in a kiln 

they used me ten times worse, than that they ground me in the mill 

they used me in the kichen, they used me in the hall 

oh they used me in the parlour among the ladies all 

the Barleygrain is a comical grain, it makes men sigh and moan 

for when they drink a glass or two they forget their wives and home 

the drunkard is a dirty man, he used me worst of all 

he drank me up in his dirty mouth an he tumbled against the wall"